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A permanent U.S. resident living in Groveport has been arrested after Albanian authorities asked
for his extradition on a 15-year-old murder conviction.

Altin Hasani, 40, also known as Altin Hasni, was in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service
yesterday after a hearing in federal court in Columbus, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
said.

The Albanian government filed a complaint on Thursday seeking extradition of Hasani, of 846 Main
St. in Groveport. The complaint says he was convicted of premeditated murder in 1999 for the 1990
fatal stabbing of Niko Bleta.

Hasani fled the country. He was found guilty in absentia and was sentenced to 22 years in
prison. When Hasani applied to become a U.S. citizen in 2011, a records check revealed his
conviction, the complaint says.

An extradition hearing is scheduled for Thursday in U.S. District Court. If a judge orders his
extradition, U.S. authorities will turn him over to the Albanian government, according to ICE.

In his application for citizenship, Hasani asked that his last name be changed to Merko.